Download Islam - Clover

Maranatha Bible Church
Adult Sunday School
World Religion Series - njb 2010
2
World Religion Series - njb 2010
3

Islam – means “submission” to Allah (God) and also means “peace”.



Radical Islam – Those who believe it is Allah’s will that all people either
convert to Islam or die
Qur’an – also known as the Koran. This is Islam’s scripture and ultimate
authority


Islam is often translated to mean: Peace through submission to God
The name Qur’an means “the reading or reciting” and comes from the revelation to
Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel who commanded him to read / recite God’s word.
Muezzin – One who calls the faithful Muslims to prayer in their mosque, the
Muslim public place of worship

Mecca – The holy city of Islam and the center for pilgrimage

Jihad – Holy War. To Strive / Struggle in the way of Allah
World Religion Series - njb 2010
4

Abram’s first son was Ishmael





His mother was Hagar
Conceived in an attempt to fulfill God’s will themselves
rather than wait on God
God (in a theophany: pre-incarnate manifestation to
man) blessed Ishmael and his descendants' (Gen. 16:316)
Ishmael was one of four people named by God himself
(Adam, Ishmael, Isaac, Jesus) – Gen. 16:11
Ishmael was promised that he would have 12 Princes
(Rulers) – Gen. 17:18-20 – and they would inhabit the
East of Isaac’s descendants' – Gen. 16:12, 25:12-18
World Religion Series - njb 2010
5
Genesis 17:18-20(NASB)
18And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!”
19But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name £Isaac; and I will
establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
20“As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him
exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
World Religion Series - njb 2010
6

How old was Ishmael when Abram cast him out of his house?



Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born
Abram was 99 when Isaac was born
In Gen. 21:9-21 whose cry did God hear?


What do you suppose his cry was about? (put yourself in his sandals) – what would you
cry out to God about?
What did God promise Ishmael at this time?

What Nation is this today?
Radical Islam’s Roots

After Esau sold his birthright to Jacob and missed the first-born’s blessing at
the hand of his Father Isaac (Gen. 27:38-42) what was his objective?

Who did Esau take for his wife (along with his other wives)?




See Gen 28:6-9. Whose daughter was she?
In what country did Esau and his household live?
See Gen. 36:6-8. What country is this known as today?
What is stated purpose of Radical Islam today?


Take Iran’s leader for example – what has he vowed to do?
Do you believe this is the purpose of all Muslim’s / Islam? Why or Why not?
World Religion Series - njb 2010
7

What did Peter mean when in Acts 2:14-21?




Who are these people who will have these
dreams and visions?
What was the outcome of these dreams and
visions? (see Acts 2:21)
Could this be happening today?
Could this be part of God’s plan for the way
Muslim’s and believer’s in Islam come to
know Jesus Christ as their Savior?
World Religion Series - njb 2010
8

Islam was founded in the 7th Century with
Muhammad’s writing of the Qur’an





Muhammad was born in A.D. 570 (or C.E – common era)
Orphaned at a young age – raised by his Uncle
Married at age 25, bore six children
Discontented with life – retreated to a cave in the
surrounding hills for meditation and reflection at age 40
where he received his first revelation from an Angel
named Gabriel
Muhammad and his followers were persecuted and
migrated to Medina in A.D. 622 where he united several
tribes and with 10,000 men conquered Mecca. He fell ill
and died in A.D. 632
World Religion Series - njb 2010
9



These revelations, which form the verses of the
Qur’an, proclaimed that “God is One” and “complete
surrender” to Him (literally ‘islam’) is the only way
acceptable to God, and that he (Muhammad) is also a
prophet and messenger of God in the same way as
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
According to the Islamic Faith, the history of Islam
stared with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael,
and Moses.
The Qur’an teaches that the Tawrit (Torah) and Injil
(Gospels) had become distorted – either in text or
interpretation (or both)
World Religion Series - njb 2010
10
Mecca
World Religion Series - njb 2010
11
l-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in Madina, Saudi Arabia, is the site of
Muhammad's tomb.
World Religion Series - njb 2010
12
Qur’an compiled
During this period
Al-Rashidun
The Rightly-Guided Caliphs
Ummayad
Ummayad Caliphate Empire
Abbasid
Expansion of Islam was mainly due to suppression of
alternate faiths. Jews and Christians initially were given
special status – They had to pay a special tax to maintain
religious autonomy – others had to either accept Islam
or die
World Religion Series - njb 2010
Islamic Golden Age – Abbasid Dynasty
Arabic Prose / Poetry flourished
Arts / Sciences developed
Commerce / Industry Revolution
Bagdad made the capital of the Caliphate
13
World Religion Series - njb 2010
14
Mughal Empire
South Asia in A.D 1526 – 18th Century
Ruler: Akbar the Great
Provinces included: Afghanistan, Pakistan
India, Bangladesh
Safavid Empire
Iranian Empire – A.D. 1506 – 1736
Ruler: Firuz Shah Zarringkolah
Ottoman Empire
Middle East, Balkans, Northern Africa
A.D. 1281 – 1924 (WWI)
Ruler(s): Osman I, Mehmed II, Selim I,
Suleiman I, Ataturk (Turks)
Following WWI, remnants of the Ottoman Empire were parceled out
As European protectorates. Since 1924 there has been no major
Widely-accepted claim to the caliphate (which had been last claimed by
The Ottomans)
World Religion Series - njb 2010
15

Islam is a monotheistic (one God) religion based around
three main documents

Qur’an (recitations) – The revelations of Muhammed






Hadith – written record of Muhammad’s Life. Also known as sira
Sunnah – Includes Islamic Traditions


Divided into 114 suras (chapters) – 6,236 verses
Early suras – revelations at Mecca involve ethical / spiritual topics
Later Medinan suras discuss social / moral issues relevant to Muslims
Perfect only in the originally recorded Arabic – Translations are
regarded as commentaries or interpretations of its meaning, not as the
Qur’an itself
This includes the 5 Pillars of Islam
Muhammad and other prophets of Islam (Caliphates) are
discussed with reverence – adding the phrase “peace be
upon him” whenever their names are mentioned
World Religion Series - njb 2010
16
The Shahadah – Basic Creed
“I testify that there is none worthy
of worship except God and I testify
that Muhammad is the Messenger of
God.”
The Salah – ritual prayer – five times
each day facing towards the Kaaba
in Mecca. Intended to focus the mind
on God and personal communication
with Him
The Zakat – Alms giving. Giving based on
accumulated wealth, obligatory for all Muslims
who can afford it.
The Sawm – Fasting during the Month of Ramadan.
Muslims must not eat or drink from dawn to
dusk during this month and must be mindful of
other sins. Fast is encourage nearness to God
and express gratitude and dependence on Him.
The Hajj – A pilgrimage during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.
Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must take the pilgrimage. They must dress in two white seamless
Sheets. Rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the Black Stone, and symbolically
Stoning the Devil
Jihad – is considered the 6th Pillar of Radical Islam
World Religion Series - njb 2010
17
Muslim Pilgrims on their Hajj to Mecca must walk 7 times around this Kaaba – House of Allah
Islam tradition says this was first built by Adam and later rebuilt by Abraham
World Religion Series - njb 2010
18

There is only One God (tawhīd)



Muhammad – The last Great Prophet



Allāh means God in Arabic
They do not believe in the trinity or in the divinity of Jesus Christ – only
that he is a prophet such as Muhammad was also a prophet
Islam lists 28 prophets among whom are: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses,
David, Jonah, and Jesus. The last great prophet was Muhammad
Belief in Angels is crucial – Gabriel gave the Word of God to Muhammad
End Times

Resurrection/Judgment – Preordained by God but unknown to man



The Qur’an emphasizes bodily resurrection
Hell – There is a literal hell and sins of disbelief, usury, dishonesty, can
condemn a person to hell. The greatest sin is “Shirk” – blasphemy (i.e.
saying Jesus is God – or God is not one)
Heaven – Paradise is a literal place of bliss and joy and physical pleasures.
World Religion Series - njb 2010
19

Predestination




The Sunni’s doctrine includes “Predestination or divine
preordainment” which teaches that the Qur’an says God has full
knowledge and control over all that occurs – “Nothing will happen
to us except Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector…”
The Shia’s doctrine includes “Divine Justice” which is known as
“free will” and stresses the importance of man’s responsibility for
his own actions.
Salvation / Entrance into Paradise is determined solely by God
based upon if your good works outweigh your sin or if you die
while on Jihad (Holy War)
The Scriptures

Four God (Allah) -inspired books: Torah, Psalms , Gospels, and
Qur’an

The Qur’an contains 99 names for God – ‘God of love’ is not one of them
World Religion Series - njb 2010
20

Islam’s God (Allah) is a transcendent (high and
mighty) God and cannot relate to mere humans.
Even in paradise Muslims do not expect to meet a
‘God of love’


“Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind); If you love Allah,
follow me; Allah will love you.” “If you love
Allah…Allah will love you.” - Qur’an 2:195; 3:31
Contrast with the what John says about the true God
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8The one
who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9By
this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent
His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live
through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but
that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for
our sins. 1 John 4:7-10(NASB)
 7
World Religion Series - njb 2010
21

The Qur’an teaches that Jesus was:



A prophet
Born of Mary, and not sinless
Did not die – someone else died in Jesus’ place, as
death would have been a failure


I Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also died for sins once for
all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to
God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive
in the spirit.”
Jesus in mentioned 97 times in the Qur’an,
while Muhammad is mentioned only 25 times.
World Religion Series - njb 2010
22

Islamic calendar is Lunar and not Gregorian (Western)

Years are counted from the prophet Muhammad’s move to Medina in 622 C.E.


Muharram – first month of the Islam year





Celebrated on the 27th day of 7th month – where Muhammad set out discipline of daily
prayers
Muhammad-Maulid al-Nabi – celebration of the birth of the prophet
Muhammad


9th month of Islamic year
Lailat ul-Qadr – night of determination (last 10 days of Ramadan) – when Allah makes
determination about the destiny of individuals and the world as a whole
Eid ul-Fitr – celebrates the end of the month of fasting (3 days)
Eid ul-Adha – Feast of Sacrifice – celebrates willingness of Abraham to sacrifice
Isaac instead of Ishmael
Al-Isra Wal Miraj – Night of ascension of Muhammad to Heaven


New Years Day is not a major holiday
Ramadan – Month of fasting from dawn to sunset


2000 C.E. was 1420/21 A.H (in the year of Hegira)
12th day of the 3rd month
Festival Dhikr – celebration to glorify Allah and seek spiritual perfection

Start with black coats and hats and then after greeting the Master, they take them off to
reveal white shirts. They whirl until they are in a trance as they seek union with Allah
World Religion Series - njb 2010
23


Beliefs about ancestry traced back to Adam, Noah,
Abraham and Ishmael
Beliefs about some aspects of God



Creator, sustainer of life, sovereignty, to be worshipped
Resurrection, judgment, hell, some form of
paradise
Recognition of the Old Testament prophets of
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses
These points of similarity can be used as a starting point in reaching
out to Muslim’s and those of Islamic faith for Christ
World Religion Series - njb 2010
24
ISLAM


4 inspired books – Qur’an
God











Monotheistic- not triune
Non-loving, transcendent
Jesus

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY



Simply a prophet
Never died on a cross
Died later on and was hidden
Muhammad – a great prophet like
Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah, and
Adam
Salvation – works, Jihad
End times – General resurrection
those good – paradise, others to hell
Evangelism – by force: convert or die
(Radical Islam)
World Religion Series - njb 2010
Bible – Only inspired Word
God
Jesus







Triune (Father, Son, Spirit)
Loving, cares about man
God in the flesh
Died on the cross
Rose again – not in the tomb
Does not recognize Muhammad as a
legitimate prophet of God or the Qur’an
Salvation – by faith, grace
End times – Jesus will return to reign,
two resurrections – one for Life, the
other at end of age for judgment in hell
Evangelism – present Gospel and Holy
Spirit works in the persons life
25



Love
Scripture – especially those passages that
they agree are inspired
Prayer
World Religion Series - njb 2010
26
World Religion Series - njb 2010
27







Cumming, Joseph. Muslim Followers of Jesus?, Christianity Today,
December 2009.
Esposito, John L. Great World Religions: Islam, The Great Courses,
Religion, Chantilly, VA.: The Teaching Company, 2003.
New American Standard Bible Edition : Fourth Copyright : Copyright ©
1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The
Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Electronic Edition STEP Files
Copyright © 2003, QuickVerse, a division of Findex.com, Inc.
Pollack, Robert. The Everything World’s Religions Book, Avon, MA.:
Adams Media, An F+W Publications Company, 2002.
Ridenour, Fritz. So What’s The Difference? – A look at 20 Worldviews,
Faiths, and Religions and how they compare to Christianity, Ventura, CA.:
Regal Books, 2001.
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam: Accessed December 28, 2009.
World Religions Made Easy, John Hunt Publishing, Peabody, MA.:
Hendrickson Publishers, 1999.
World Religion Series - njb 2010
28